Inside the Influence of Nikola Jokić: How a Simple Gesture Transformed Christian Braun’s Career
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić has long been known for his brilliance on the court, but his leadership style—quiet, observant, and deeply intentional—has just as powerful an impact. One moment during Christian Braun’s rookie season illustrated that perfectly, a moment Braun now credits with changing the trajectory of his young NBA career.
Every Nuggets practice begins with a 10-minute team-led stretching session, a routine that appears routine but carries more weight than it seems. During his first season, Braun didn’t grasp its significance. He would use the time to chat with teammates, unaware that others—like Jokić—saw it as part of the discipline required to succeed at the highest level.
Jokić noticed. After several subtle warnings, he took action. Without a word, he walked over, picked up Braun’s stretching mat, and placed it next to his own. “You’re gonna do this every day,” he told Braun. Since that day, the two have stretched side by side, a ritual that not only shaped Braun’s habits but helped forge one of the league’s most quietly effective partnerships.
In his third season, Braun has blossomed. Elevated to the starting lineup after offseason roster changes, he’s averaging career highs in nearly every category, including 15.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. But more than stats, it’s his understanding of the game that’s grown — thanks in large part to his daily proximity to the reigning MVP.
Jokić has become a mentor in the truest sense. Whether guiding Braun through defensive positioning with a silent glance or handing out in-game advice with pinpoint accuracy, the Serbian center teaches constantly—often without saying a word. Braun, a diligent student of film, has embraced every lesson, and it shows. The duo ranks among the league’s most productive offensive pairings, with Braun frequently on the receiving end of Jokić’s wizardry.
But Braun isn’t the only one to benefit from what players and coaches now call “The Jokić Effect.” Former teammates like Bruce Brown and Monté Morris recount similar stories—how Jokić, almost telepathically, positions his teammates, corrects their timing, or uses a look or a shrug to spark scoring opportunities. Even opponents and national teammates, such as Bogdan Bogdanović, speak with reverence about the way Jokić dissects a game in real-time.
Behind Jokić’s low-key demeanor is an obsessive basketball mind. He watches film endlessly, memorizes opponents’ playbooks, and knows where every defender will move before they do. Whether through sonar-like awareness of teammates’ voices or subtle shifts in eye movement, Jokić manages to make the complex seem simple—and his teammates smarter.
For Braun, who now mirrors Jokić’s off-court routine as well—lifting after games, studying matchups, and treating his body like a tool—the growth has been exponential. As the Nuggets head into the postseason with a restructured roster and a new coaching staff, the connection between Braun and Jokić stands as a steadying force. “That is somebody I wanna be like,” Braun says. “There’s a reason why he’s successful. And I wanna be successful too.”